Lesser Negatives'Demo' (stream)

While still slinging grunge-pop licks in Slow Learners, Vancouver musician John Johnston has started up a new, slightly harder-edged project called Lesser Negatives, who have just unveiled a three-song debut.

Johnston's sublimely sloppy Kurt Cobain circa Bleach-styled vocals are key to the sound, though in addition to hooks no doubt influenced by a steady diet of Nirvana and Jawbreaker, the band get more aggressive than his full-time project. Take for instance the manic "A Show of Teeth," building up from a rumbling drum roll into a white hot supernova of screams and six-string dissonance. "A Signal" throws some flashy licks into the barrage of barre chord damage, while "Y.N.A.W." hits hard with distorted melodies of its own.

You can say hello to Lesser Negatives by streaming their demo below or downloading it on Bandcamp.